Blessed assurance. [ 1 John 3 v 1-2 ]

Fanny Crosby she lived till the age of 95, she was blinded at birth, but she was never bitter by this so called accident, she was prolific in her hymn writing. Her best remembered hymn is , Blessed Assurance, which is still sung regularly by Christians, The theme of the hymn is ,assurance, praise ,and submission, each of these themes, bring a challenge. The first one assurance, that of knowing Jesus as ones Saviour, the second ,is praise ,flowing from that relationship ,and all it has brought one into . The third ,perfect submission,is in relationship to the Lordship of Christ in the Christians life, so many of us only know imperfect submission, we are unfortunately ever resisting that perfect submission, as a result we do loose out in so many ways. [ Dear God we thank You ,that we can have that assurance that Jesus is ours,and be trully blessed,we praise You for all that means,and we pray that You will help us to perfectly submit our lives and wills to You, in Jesus name Amen ]

Loved. [ Romans 8 v 35- 39 ]

Yesterday we mentioned three people who were blind, yet wrote hymns that blessed others,let us consider their Hymns, for the next three mornings. George Matheson,s most remembered Hymn is,/ O love that wilt not let me go/. It is said he wrote this out of a painful experience, whan he was rejected by someone he loved. Like George we may be experiencing rejection, many people have ,even by those nearest and dearest to them, and it is very painful, so today let us not be bitter, or despair, and let us remember the one who will always love us, even God. George wrote, O Love that wilt not let me go, I rest my weary soul in thee. I give Thee back the life I owe, that in Thine ocean depths its flow may richer , fuller be. [ Dear God we thank You that we will always be loved by You, for Jesus sake Amen ]

Handicaps. [ 2 Corinthians 12 v 1- 12 ]

George Matheson, Fanny Crosby, and William Walford were all blind, and yet they left their mark within the church of God, they wrote hymns, that continue to bless others.Having a handicap does not mean that one cannot achieve things in life, now none of us wish for handicaps, but the fact of the matter is ,often we dont have a choice. These three blind people through their hymn writing ,have blessed millions of people, they did this in spite of their handicaps.The point is this they didnt let their handicaps, handicap them, we all have choices as regards those handicaps that we have,we can let our handicaps , handicap us, or like those people,who were blind, we can be a blessing to others, the choice is ours. [ Dear God help us to face life, even a life with handicaps, and enable us to accomplish our goals, to glorify You ,and be a blessing to others in Jesus name Amen ]

If not for Easter.[ 1 Corinthians 15 v3 ff]

Joanna Fuchs wrote/ If not for Easter the chaos of this world would be all there is, and all there ever would be. If not for Easter the unfairness of life would drive us to despair/. It was Easter Sunday 46yrs ago I attended a church service, and was restored to the Lord, I thank God for Easter. We look at so many situations and people and it is so easy to despair, but then I am reminded of the miracle of Easter , of one who died , that our sins can all be forgiven, that the vilest of sinners who trully believes, can be forgiven and changed. I was speaking to a young lady who lost her husband a number of years ago,and it reminded me that death stalks the land still, our loved ones will die, our friends will die, we will die, but thank God for Easter, and the wonderful truth of the resurrection, up from the grave He arose, death could not hold Him. The wonderful message of Easter is one of resurrection, for all who put their faith in Jesus. [Dear God we thank You for Easter for the hope it brings ,help us to embrace Jesus who died for our sins,and conquered death for us. Amen ]

Choices . [ Joshua 24 ]

As I watched one of my favourite movies ,I heard these words,/Its not our abilities that show us who we are , its our choices/.This is so very true, Judas was seen as a disciple, but His choice showed him for what he really was, a traitor.The choices we make are very important, we can be ever so sincere, like the rich young man who came to Jesus,he wanted to know ,/what good deed he could do to have eternal life/.Jesus told him and he choose to reject what Jesus said.[Matthew19v16-22]There are so many people with great abilities, but there choices show them up to be an adulterer,a liar,even a murderer.No matter how much ability one may have are choices show us up for what we are.[Dear Lord help us to make the right choices in life in Jesus name Amen.]

Change . [ Malachi 3 v6 ]

This is the first day of summer,the only thing is someone forgot to tell the weather,last night the weather forecast was for rain and snow in certain parts of the country. The weather is so much like us changeable, we are creatures of moods, not only are we creatures of moods ,but we live in a world of change. There is an uncertainty to life, but here is the good news God does not change, His Justice, mercy, love, His sovereign rule, and His faithfulness. T Chisholm wrote,/ Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father, there is no shadow of turning with Thee, Thou changest not , Thy compassions they fail not, as thou hast been Thou forever wilt be./[ Dear God in this world of uncertainties, caused by change , we rest on your unchangeableness, in Jesus name Amen.]

What God can do. [ 2 Kings 7 ]

I was at a prayer meeting last night, and I heard a person praying,/ God You can do things that no one else can/. We may all know this, but I am sure that we need continually to be reminded of this truth,one of the most important things God ,and only God can do, is save a soul. . In 1 Corinthians 3 v5 -7 ,we read ,/ Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by which ye believed,.........I have planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth anything, neither he that watereth, but God that giveth the increase/.This should keep those so called successful preachers humble,and remind us all that Salvation is of the Lord.This thought about God doing things that no one else can, can relate to many things, needs, opening of doors,mybe today you are faced with a insurmountable problem,think upon that thought and reach out to God in faith, and discover that He can do for You, what no one else can.[ Dear God we look to You ,to do for us, what only You can do, in Jesus name Amen ]